MACOMB, Ill. - Senior Amy Sauerwein recorded her 1,000th kill during the middle of game one in the Western Illinois volleyball team's 3-0 (30-22, 30-18, 30-18) victory over Oakland.

"I was really excited to reach this milestone," said Sauerwein. "It is a great memory to get during my senior year."

The Belleville, Ill., native became the fourth member of Western's 1,000 Kill/1,000 Dig Club, joining Sue Orstrom, Michele Aulig, and Diane Ellefritz.

"Amy is a special player," said head coach Kym McKay. "For her to earn the statistical honors that she has shows you what a great player she is. She is the type of player that is going to work hard every day and never complains. Amy has been a great player because when she is having trouble hitting she is doing well defensively."

The Westerwinds (8-11, 5-2 The Summit League) started out game one with a 0-2 deficit before tying the game at four. The Golden Grizzlies (6-13, 2-5 The Summit League) and Western battled for the lead until the Westerwinds broke an 11-all tie to take the lead for good on a kill by junior Monique Houston.

Game two was a different story as Western pulled out to an early 3-0 lead and never allowed Oakland to get closer than one point the rest of the match. Junior Sarah Trimpe helped the Westerwinds pull ahead by 12 points, when she served 10-straight times for Western.

The final game of the match was a back and forth battle at the beginning, with two lead changes and five tie scores. Oakland's Amy Golem recorded an attack error to put the Westerwinds up for the rest of the match at 13-12. Western then went on a five-point run to pull away from the Golden Grizzlies.

Sauerwein ended the match with eight kills and 20 digs for the Westerwinds and became the seventh player in team history, and the second this season, to record 1,000 kills in her career. Fellow 1,000 Kill Club member Ashley Baker tallied a team-high 14 kills and added 11 digs. Sophomore Lindsay Muehlbauer led the team defensively with 21 digs.

For the second match in a row the Westerwinds hit over their season average. Western recorded a .248 (51k-15e-145ta) in the match to Oakland's -.014 (27k-29e-145ta). The Westerwinds also out-blocked the Golden Grizzlies 10-5.

"We did a lot of really good things," McKay said. "There was a lot of excitement defensively and offensively. We had a lot of great touches and a lot of communication on what we need to do."

Western faces new conference member IPFW tomorrow at 5 p.m. at Waste Management Court at Western Hall.

Notes: Houston recorded a season high three assists...Muehlbauer tied a career-high in the match with 21 digs.